Let me open by saying that I need to explain something before you get halfway through reading this and start having a panic attack. I have left Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo off of this list due to their injuries.

According to Jackson, Lee “thanked” Jackson for making Lin available so that the Knicks could pick him up. “I got a text message from Spike Lee this morning,” Jackson said after Warriors’ practice on Saturday. “I had nothing to do with Jeremy Lin. I never saw him do a layup. So for the people … stop asking me. He never practiced for us so leave me out of it.”

Ellis allegedly texted Smith "several times in a single day, late at night or in the early morning hours," using a "secret" telephone that was kept by an equipment manager with the team, the suit claims. The texts from Ellis included phrases like "I want to be with you," and "Hey Sexy," to which Smith responded with, "What do you want?" and "I am sleeping," the suit alleges.

Sadly, it appears Monta Ellis, the talented combo guard for the Golden State Warriors, is one of those people.

First, there was moped-gate. Ellis injured himself riding an electrical device my ten year old nephew calls lame and lied about it as rolling on a moped is a violation of his contract.

Second, Ellis asked several times for a trade. Some of his requests were private; some of his requests were public, bringing controversy to The Bay.

Third, Ellis welcomed blue-chip prospect Stephen Curry to his first pro training camp by declaring the two couldn’t start in the same backcourt.

To be fair: Ellis and Curry have made amends.

And finally there’s this: Ellis, allegedly, acted like a Delta Bravo (that’s a polite way of calling him something that rhymes with Fouche Bag) to a team employee.

Worst of all, the Warriors, allegedly, covered for his Delta Bravo/Fouche Baggery. They fired the employee and this could get awfully messy, as there’s a smoking gun that shows Ellis’ sexual harassment.

The Warriors have a new owner, Joe Lacob, and rookie coach, Mark Jackson, who are both trying to change the dysfunction and incompetence that has plagued the organization.

This won’t help. Unfortunately, there will be no trade market for Ellis with such a controversy hanging over his head.

So Lacob and Jackson have one choice: they must stick by Ellis and hope he finally learns.

“I don’t know about the talks he had with the front office or where they ended before the lockout, but as of right now, he’s still a Warrior,” Curry said of Ellis. “We want him with our team. He makes us better. And I think with a fresh start and all the new faces with the organization that will help him forget about the past and not really affect what is going on right now.

“I know there has been a lot of turmoil with him and the organization in the past. I can’t speak for him, but I think the new look of our organization will help him make a difference.”

Without major roster changes in Oakland, Warriors' new lead assistant coach Mike Malone will be working with two guards who haven't consistently proved willing or able to stop dribble penetration, a center who hasn't shown up for the past two seasons and little depth. "Can you play defense with two small guards? It's a very interesting question, and I don't have a definite answer," Malone said. "Can they defend? Are they willing to defend? It could be hard to break those habits, but, if they want to win, they'll be willing."

Take Larry Riley, the head suit for the Golden State Warriors. Riley recently told Sports Illustrated that the club isn’t shopping Monta Ellis, their lightning-quick scorer.

That, however, doesn’t mean the Warriors won’t trade Ellis. It means they won’t initiate trade discussions, but they’ll listen to trade offers. And who knows what happens if the right trade offer materializes?

So Riley can offer public assurances. He can compare the Warriors’ tiny backcourt of Ellis and Stephen Curry to the world champion Mavericks, who used smaller guards.

Riley is conveniently omitting that the Mavericks have superstar Dirk Nowitzki. The Warriors do not.

New coach Mark Jackson can say Ellis is the NBA’s third best shooting guard, capable of matching-up against anyone except Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.

The door is open to a trade. How wide open remains to be seen, though.
--Oly Sandor.

The Warriors, who struggled defensively last season, could be looking for a defensive addition and might be willing to part with Ellis because guard Stephen Curry has blossomed into a legitimate NBA scorer.

The deal: A straight-up trade of Ellis ($11 million a year through 2013-14, with that last season being a player option) for Iguodala (approximately $56 million remaining through the 2013-14 season, with the last season being a player option).

If Rubio does indeed sign as expected, point guard Jonny Flynn's days in Minnesota are numbered. Sources also indicated to HOOPSWORLD that Flynn is almost sure to be traded in that case with the Toronto Raptors being one of the most probable destinations.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Larry Riley, the GM, says one thing. Joe Lacob, the owner, has said differently.

It seems the Golden State Warriors can’t make up their mind on whether they want to go small, starting undersized Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis in the backcourt.

Riley sees the upside: Curry is a deadly shooter with a great basketball IQ, while Ellis is a sensational scorer. According to Riley, this more than compensates for both being 6-foot-3 and lean.

Lacob sees the negative: Curry and Ellis can both be posted up by bigger guards on the defensive end, who will then use their size to create mismatches. So the billionaire is open to trading either player.

Riley and Lacob both have a point. Each has expressed their view publicly. Obviously, the GM and owner shouldn’t have their differing views out for public consumption.

However, Lacob inherited Riley. Ten months ago, he bought the club from Chris Cohan, and got stuck with Riley –the lowest paid GM in the league (your draw your own conclusions).

Riley will apparently be returning, but nobody knows for sure. The Curry-Ellis backcourt is far from a sure thing.

He also agreed with coach Byron Scott, who called Davis one of the NBA's top five point guards when healthy. "I believe so," Davis said from Thursday's practice. "I love the game, I study the game, I see the game with a different set of eyes than a lot of other guys."

Unfortunately, Davis is rarely motivated, which means he’s hardly ever fit. Of course, an unmotivated and out of shape player is an often injured player.

After all, Davis has spent most of the last few years sulking about playing for the lowly Los Angeles Clippers, a team he picked as an unrestricted free agent.

He seemed more interested in making movies with his Hollywood buddies. He often had a ‘generous’ physique. And his play suffered.

Sadly, after teasing fans in Golden State, Davis has been a bust. He’s withered away his talent, content to take advantage of the perks that come with a plush, guaranteed contract.

None of this has impacted Davis’ confidence. After all, Davis –even when at full strength- isn’t a top five point guard.

Not anymore and not now. The one-spot currently belongs to up-and-comers like Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, and Deron Williams.

There’s also established heads like Chauncey Billups, Steve Nash, and Tony Parker. And what about talented youngsters and veterans like Darren Collison, Stephen Curry, Ray Felton, Jason Kidd, and Andre Miller?

All have performed at a higher level than Davis. In fact, Davis, who was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, might have trouble beating out Ramon Sessions for the starting table-setter job –if all things are equal.

Hopefully, Davis gets motivated, fit, and, as a result, stays healthy. Hopefully, he salvages whatever he can of his career. At 31, the clock is ticking.
--Oly Sandor.
Got thoughts? Well, get at us in the comment box below.

Christmas is upon us. I bet you crazies are recovering from the annual Black Friday or Thanksgiving. I’m not. I’m whatever at this point because I’m keeping tabs as the era of great point guards gets even crazier around the NBA as they reign supreme. Stat tracking gets somewhat difficult because I just want to watch them play. Quality point guards are not difficult to find anymore compared to years’ past. Even if you do not land anyone listed among the top 10 in your fantasy draft, there are more good point guards hidden in the waiver wire depending on the league’s depth. Stats are up to date as of December 1, 2010.

There is, however, no disputing the obvious: Monta Ellis and the Golden State Warriors are a happier, more functional team since Don Nelson, the mad scientist on the sideline, retired.

To be fair, Nelson wins regular season games. And his small-ball approach occasionally captivated –who can forget the Warriors upset of the Dallas Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs?

He also alienated. Soon after the ‘We Believe’ miracle, Nelson soured on key players such as Baron Davis, Al Harrington, and Stephen Jackson.

Such dysfunction unfortunately influenced Ellis, a young combo guard with quicks and skills.

For instance, Ellis lied about injuring his ankle while riding a moped. The reason: he was in violation of his 6 year, $66 million extension.

Ellis also ‘welcomed’ rookie Stephen Curry to his first ever training camp by declaring he couldn’t form a backcourt with the lottery pick. There were trade requests and disputes with the organization.

This, as they say, is water under the bridge.

Nelson is gone –for good. New Coach Keith Smart has the Warriors at 4-1. Ellis is happy with the team. The team is happy with Ellis.

"It was great to practice every day against the best young talent in the league, a veteran like Chauncey Billups and play for a Hall of Fame coach [Mike Krzyzewski]," Rondo said. "But some of these guys hadn't played since April. Lamar [Odom] and I had just got out of Game 7. And next season is right around the corner. I feel like I had to take advantage of the opportunity I have right now to win another championship. It's not often you get to play with four Hall of Famers. Another couple of years and I won't have that."

Rondo hadn’t recovered from the Boston Celtics’ crushing seven-game loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. He was drained and needed rest.

The emerging table-setter understands the championship window is closing on the green-and-white. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce – also known as The Big Three - are hitting the end of their careers.

Rondo knows he needs to be at full strength in 2011 and 2012 because opportunities to win championships are rare. Playing in the World Championship would be tiring.

"A month before the season was over with, I really had to sit back and blame myself in a sense because I'm that leader; I'm that one who everybody feeds off of," Ellis said. "Everything that went on last year (regarding Curry) shouldn't have gone on. I blame myself."

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Finally, a sign of maturity from Monta Ellis.

Despite his tremendous talent, the lightning quick combo guard has failed to fulfill expectations as a franchise player for the Golden State Warriors.

After all, he injured his leg riding a moped – the vehicle of choice for European males and American teenagers. Ellis, of course, lied about how he sustained the injury because cruising in a moped violates his contract.

Ellis then spent a season or so feuding with Coach Don Nelson and the Warriors. Worst of all, he called out teammate Stephen Curry before his first training camp in 2009, saying he couldn’t play with the then rookie sharpshooter.

It's not my call. That's on them," Jennings said. "But if you want to get technical about it and you really want to look at it, half of the guys there are Nike guys. I'm not saying it's a Nike thing, but Nike is kind of running a lot of things right now. To have a guy like myself on the USA team that's flashy and really outgoing, you don't want Under Armour to get all that [publicity]. "I'm just telling you how it is."

At least, this is the reason second year guard Brandon Jennings believes Team USA didn’t invite him to try out for the World Championship squad. Stars and Stripes were sponsored by Nike. Jennings is sponsored by Under Armour.

Jennings sees a connection. The Swoosh supposedly concocted a grand conspiracy of Oliver Stone proportion to keep Jennings – a pretty good, but hardly great table-setter - off the squad.

There’s a simpler and better answer: Jennings isn’t as good as he thinks.

Team USA had other options. Better options. For instance, the coaching staff selected Chauncey Billups and Derrick Rose at point guard. Both are more advanced than Jennings. Neither wears Nike.

Off the bench, the Americans had Stephen Curry, Eric Gordon, and Russell Westbrook. Curry makes Team USA because they needed outside shooting. Gordon surprised the coaching staff. And Westbrook’s energy and athleticism was irreplaceable.

Frankly, the 2010 American team won gold at the World Championship because everybody parked their egos at the door. Nobody bitched. Nobody moaned.

Would the coaches want someone who describes himself as flashy and outgoing, and believes a multinational shoe company is out to get him? Or, would they want a player who puts the team first?